An Associate in the Los Angeles office of Bonne, Bridges, Mueller, O’Keefe & Nichols, Nicholas primarily practices in the areas of professional and healthcare license defense and medical malpractice defense.
- Expertise
- Personal
- Education
Expertise
Since joining Bonne, Bridges, Mueller, O’Keefe & Nichols in 2022, Nicholas has specialized in complex disciplinary proceedings before the Medical Board of California, Dental Board of California, California Board of Pharmacy, and other administrative agencies. He has defended a hospital and nursing staff in a complex medical malpractice action in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California involving civil rights and wrongful death claims. In addition, Nicholas has helped successfully oppose efforts by the Medical Board of California to enforce investigative subpoenas, including subpoenas seeking medical records over patient objections.
Nicholas developed a strong foundation in legal analysis as a judicial extern to the Honorable Ronald H. Sargis, Chief Bankruptcy Judge in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California, where he analyzed complex legal issues and drafted preliminary rulings. At Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, he researched First Amendment issues implicated by efforts to regulate deepfake technology under Vice Dean Goodno. Through Pepperdine’s Sudreau Global Justice Program, Nicholas externed with the Supreme Court of Ghana, assisting the justices with research supporting a landmark election case of first impression and broader criminal justice reform efforts. He also competed on Pepperdine’s Trial Advocacy Competition Team and clerked with Obagi Law Group, P.C. in Los Angeles.
Nicholas was admitted to the California Bar in December 2022 and is licensed to practice law before all courts in the State of California and the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Personal
Nicholas is an avid reader and hiker, and he enjoys roasting and brewing coffee, continually refining each step of the process to craft the perfect cup. He is committed to mentorship and regularly returns to his alma mater to advise students on navigating law school, preparing for the California Bar Exam, and building their careers.
Education
Nicholas earned his J.D., cum laude, from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 2022, where he served on the Editorial Board of the Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal, including as Managing Editor, and spearheaded bylaw changes that expanded staff eligibility to LL.M. (international) students. He received multiple CALI Awards, awarded to the student who earns the highest grade in the class, in Real Property, Legal Ethics, Privacy Law, and Public International Law. His published writing includes an article in the Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal (Vol. XXII) advocating for mediation as a practical tool to help break congressional deadlock, and a published article in the Campbell Law Review proposing reforms to the regulation of nonprofit hospitals. Before law school, Nicholas graduated with honors from the University of California, Davis, earning B.A. degrees in History and Political Science, and authored an Honors Thesis challenging modern interpretations of a prominent Enlightenment thinker.